Pipe clamping device



Filed Nov. 4, 1943 IN V EN TOR.

147' TORNE) Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE CLAMPING DEVICE Olof Staff, Princess Bay, N. Y.

Application November 4, 1943, Serial No. 508,934

1 Claim.

This invention relates to mechanical appliances for stressing bands, straps and similar flexible objects, and retaining them under tension. I An object of the invention is to provide a simple, easily operated device, having means for attaching one end of a strip to be tightened, and also a coiling means to engage the opposite and whereby the strip may be stressed.

A further feature is in the provision of a tightener adapted to retain a thin, flat, flexible, tape like element, under any required tension, until it is desired to release it.

Another purpose is to produce a compact, inexpensive device, easily applicable to the parts to be stressed, and as readily removed.

These objects are accomplished by the novel and practical construction, combination and arrangement of few and simple parts, hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a pictorial component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device, examplifying its application.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing the device will be seen to consist of a frame, broadly designated by the numeral I5, consisting of a flat bar l6 connecting raised lugs I1, having bored openings I8 adapted to act as bearings. Rotatable in these bearings are two semi-circular members, respectively l9 and 20, having at one end heads 2| and 22, these elements, when entered in the bearings, constituting a longitudinally split spindle having a square head; both parts may have upset outer ends 23 and 24 to retain the spindle in place.

The element I9 is straight and level throughout, including its half head 2| and bead 23.

The opposite element 20 is straight, flat and level at its end portions, including its head 22 and bead 24, but midway in the length of the element 20, in its inner flat side, is a recess 25, forming a space between the members.

At the center of length of the element 20, in its convex outer surface, is a transverse weakening groove 25, whereby the element may readily assume a slightbending position with fracturen In operation, as clearly shown in Figure 3, a thin flat, tape like strip 30, of any flexible material, has one of its ends 3! folded over the bar l6 and extended reentrantly downward in close contact with the strip, forming thereby a firm connection with the bar I6.

The opposite free end 32 of the strip is entered into the space formed by the recess 25 and there after the spindle turned, as by a wrench applied to its head, causing the strip to be wound on the spindle, to which it adheres by reason of its coiled friction thereon under the tensional stress imparted to it.

Due to the pressure attained in winding the strip on the spindle, it invariably remains in its adjusted position, while the strip is firmly clamped and caused to tightly embrace any object held in the bight 33 of the loop formed V by it.

When a wrench is applied on the square head and pressure is applied, it will release the locking effect of the spindle, so that the latter is free to turn.

Having thus described the device and set forth the manner of its construction and application, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A pipe clamping device, consisting of a frame comprising a metal cross bar and lateral portions having circular bearing openings therein, a spindle having a squared head on one end extending through both bearing holes so that the square head will engage one of the lateral portions, the other end of the spindle being flanged against the other lateral portion, the spindle being longitudinally split into two equal sections and one of the sections having an internal clearance, and a flexible strip secured to the metal cross bar and adapted to be inserted in the clearance of'the spindle and wound on the spindle, the end of the metal strip when inserted in the spindle clearance exerting internal pressure to separate the sections of the spindle to increase the frictional engagement with said lateral portions.

OLOF STAFF. 

